Architectural glass: beauty or eco-beast?

Is the ‘right’ glass important?

Matching the glass system with the style of the building and the context in which it sits is extremely important. The quality of the glass, in terms of structural, physical and thermal properties, is paramount to achieving a building that looks and functions properly.

“Especially in hot regions like the Gulf, the energy performance and comfort levels of a building clothed in glass are totally dominated by the choice of glass,” explains James Law, chairman and founder of Hong Kong-based James Law Cybertecture International (JLCI).

Having designed several projects for the Middle East and India using glass that does what it promises is crucial for JLCI.

Because glass can range from fully transparent to fully opaque or reflective, and can be specified in virtually any tint or colour, aesthetics is less of an initial concern than function. As Kareem Negm, LEED AP and architect at Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners), points out, ‘function’ in the Middle East means more than just energy-efficiency.

Of course, double glazed, low-U glass should be specified externally to reduce solar gain but because of cultural privacy issues, residential projects will almost always opt for fully reflective or dark tints, regardless of efficiency levels of the glass. Internally, however, aesthetics take priority.

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In the more moderate climates of Europe, North America and parts of Asia, glass can be an extremely versatile material that can simultaneously address efficiency and design challenges. But, climates in the Gulf are harsher; they require materials that function at higher levels and, therefore, require careful consideration during design and specification.

Chad Oppenheim, founder and principal of Miami-based Oppenheim Architecture + Design, often says: “Building glass refrigerators in the desert doesn’t make a lot of sense.” Oppenheim’s logic is doubly poignant given his experience and the context in which he works. So, the obvious question remains, is glass a liability in the Gulf?

“I think any material can be a ‘liability’ if used improperly or unwisely, or where all considerations in the use of that material are not considered,” says Bohlen.

“Well if you look at it from an environmental point of view then yes. We’re creating glass boxes that are heat magnets. They look nice, but often trap the heat inside and cost a lot of money to cool. This cooling process harms the environment in a tremendous way,” agrees Negm.

Wagner takes the argument a step further to suggest that the ‘liability’ aspect of glass doesn’t rest wholly with the material itself. “There is always an element of liability in glass, no matter where you are located,” he explains.

“The reason that there appears to be a lack of versatility in this market can be largely attributed to the fact that the local manufacturing industry has not developed a diverse and feasible enough repertoire, which in return has hampered construction of avant-garde designs... At the same time we have to consider the environmental aspect of shipping tonnes of products halfway around the globe,” adds Wagner.

The final word

It seems clear that the key to using glass correctly and responsibly lies in the ability of architects, contractors, developers and engineers to be collectively mindful of its climatic challenges and specify the product in conscientious ways.

The challenges include high heat and humidity, blowing sand particulates and plenty of solar gain.

Anytime you can avoid the sun’s rays from directly striking the glass you have gone a long way towards making the facade and interior more efficient.